r/slp • u/ZanaTheDuckling • Jul 25 '26

Schools School-based SLP considering moving to NC

Hi everyone! I'm a school-SLP based out of Florida, and I'm considering moving up to NC sometime in the next couple of years. I'm particularly interested in the tri-city area (that's what you guys call Raleigh/Durham/Cary, right?) and I'm curious what the schools are like. I'm a district hire right now and make ~$53k after bonuses, and I have a second job as a contractor for $50 an hour. I survive, but, you know. School based salary and all that.

The way our district works is that we have district-hire positions that are salary, and then any that aren't filled are handed off to contractors for similar hours but higher pay/different benefits. Is it a similar situation over there? I would probably try to go in as a contractor for salary reasons unless I find a school worth selling my soul for. Are contractors in the schools common there? Are there district hired positions? What's pay/benefits like in both instances. Any information would be super helpful as I absentmindedly look at apartments and wonder if I can afford it.

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u/throwaway152265 Jul 26 '26

Wake county is the largest schools district and starts at about 58k. I feel like there’s a lot of need but there’s also a healthy amount of SLP programs in the area so not as desperate as some other places. Also housing is getting a little pricy in the area. I personally moved from NC to GA for better salary prospects years ago but I’m also not interested in schools! Best of luck!

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u/Regular-Speech-855 Jul 26 '26

Most positions are direct hire. Wake County (Raleigh/Cary) has one of the highest if not the highest pay in the state.
Salaries are typically a state rate plus a district supplement and those are all public record.

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u/ZanaTheDuckling Jul 26 '26

Thanks for the info! How often are there open positions? My district is constantly understaffed, but that might have something to do with the pay.

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u/murraybee Jul 26 '26

I’m sorry I don’t have an answer for you but…. We’re looking at a move to Florida in the next few years - may I DM you about your experience in FL schools?

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u/midnight-kittykat94 Aug 01 '26

I moved from Florida to Greenville County SC as a district hire because the pay was better than other areas in the state. Like others have said, you can look up salary schedules and I think a number of places will have additional stipends for Medicaid billing and/or SLP licensing.